Los Angeles, Dec. 26 (AP): Jack Nicholson says he drew on his own experience in the hospital for his new film, The Bucket List.

Nicholson and Morgan Freeman co-star as cancer patients who decide to travel the world following their wish list of things to do before they die.

The film, a Warner Bros. release, was directed by Rob Reiner. A lot of this movie was informed by my being not what I thought I would be, an excellent patient, but rather a poor one, Nicholson told reporters recently, according to AP Radio.

That happened by coincidence just before this movie, Nicholson, 70, said. Nothing as frightening as what these fellows had to go through.

The actor has said he was in the hospital for a procedure that was not life-threatening.

Freeman, also 70, said one of the things on his bucket list was working with Nicholson.

Hes a prince of a man. Wonderful to work with. Very, very professional, otherwise he wouldnt be where he is, Freeman said. Ive always thought that hes just one of the best weve got.

The Bucket List opened in limited release yesterday. The film will be in additional theatres on January 11.

Nicholson plays the millionaire owner of a hospital chain whose motto is two patients to every room. He then gets trapped into a friendship with Freeman, the black owner of a garage, who had to drop out of college early to support his family, when the two are assigned the same room.

Freemans character has the idea of making a bucket list of all the things hed like to do before dying and Nicholson finances the trip for both of them as their friendship blossoms.